Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone was stopped and questioned by police at Tires Aerodrome in Cascais, Portugal, on Monday after customs authorities discovered an undocumented shotgun in his luggage following a flight from Switzerland.
The incident drew immediate international attention as contradictory reports emerged over whether the 95-year-old motorsport billionaire had been formally placed under arrest. While local media reports initially stated that Ecclestone was detained by authorities, the former F1 chief rejected those claims in interviews with the Press Association, insisting that law enforcement personnel acted politely and helped him navigate the bureaucratic tangle.
Arrival at Tires Aerodrome and the Customs Discovery
The confrontation unfolded after Ecclestone landed at Tires Aerodrome, situated roughly 20 miles outside of Lisbon, aboard his private jet. Traveling from Switzerland, the longtime executive brought along a shotgun intended for a clay pigeon shooting competition. According to Ecclestone, he cleared the initial customs check without incident because airport personnel are very well
acquainted with him. It was only afterward that police requested a secondary inspection.
When officers asked to examine the contents of the luggage, Ecclestone quickly identified the weapon. However, complications arose when authorities requested the firearm’s blue book,
a specialized registration document function similar to a passport. Ecclestone stated that he had never heard of the requirement, explaining that he had previously brought firearms through normal channels from England into Switzerland without encountering the rule.
Contradictory Accounts of Detention and Arrest
Accounts of the encounter diverge sharply depending on the source. Reports from Portuguese outlets cited by sapo.pt indicated that Ecclestone was formally detained by authorities at the airfield. Similarly, Crash.net reported that the former executive was arrested on Monday during the airport security check.
By contrast, BBC reported that Ecclestone firmly denied being arrested, telling reporters that he spent about an hour speaking with four police officers and customs officials before reaching an administrative resolution. The Guardian confirmed through independent sources that the 95-year-old was detained following the discovery of the undocumented weapon, noting that standard legal procedure in Portugal requires officials to seize the firearm and designate the carrier as a defendant in criminal proceedings while the matter is reviewed.
“No. The police were very helpful and doing all they could to stop us from having to do what we had to do.”
Bernie Ecclestone, former Formula 1 chief executive
Resolving the Paperwork and Surrendering the Weapon
Faced with potential import violations, Ecclestone and his entourage coordinated with customs officials in Lisbon to address the missing documentation.
Ecclestone’s wife, Fabiana Flosi, traveled to Lisbon to handle the surrender of the firearm and manage the required administrative filings.
Air Travel Parallels and Prior Legal Scrutiny
Monday’s airport incident carries striking parallels to a similar firearm controversy involving Ecclestone four years prior. In that instance, he paid 6,000 Brazilian reals (£1,000) in bail before authorities released him.
Ecclestone’s legal history also includes a high-profile tax fraud case. Following a 2015 inquiry regarding undeclared assets held in a trust in Singapore totaling more than £400m, he pleaded guilty to fraud and received a 17-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after agreeing to a civil settlement.
What Lies Ahead for the Investigation
Portuguese authorities continue to evaluate the legal status of the seized firearm, leaving the final resolution of the case pending.
